State of Washington

GRAIN INSPECTION OFFICE SUPERVISOR

Definition

Acts as an assistant to a Grain Inspection Area Manager. Schedules, evaluates, supervises and trains official personnel and assures compliance with the United States Grain Standards Act, the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 and Chapter 22.09 RCW in the sampling, weighing and inspection of grains, pulses and other agricultural commodities. Performs the duties of the Grain Inspection Area Manager in the manager's absence. May be the only permanently assigned supervisor in smaller inspection offices.

Typical Work

Assists in the supervision of a grain inspection area office; directs, supervises and instructs a staff of employees in the official inspection, grading and weighing of standardized grains, graded commodities and processed commodities in compliance with the United States Grain Standards Act and the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 and/or with Washington State standards and rules;

Schedules employees and determines job assignments to meet industry needs in accordance with employee licenses and abilities, the Union-Management Agreement and Inner Office Agreement on the distribution of overtime and penalty time;

Coordinates, directs, supervises and instructs employees in the sampling and certification of processed commodities for compliance with Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) and Defense Personnel Support Center (DPSC) contracts;

Assists in the formulation and conduct of an employee training program for official personnel; provides counseling, assistance and training for employee development in official inspection and weighing skills; conducts licensing examinations for grain and commodity samplers and NIR protein technicians; provides safety and employee orientations; maintains employee supervision and conduct records and notes for needed disciplinary actions;

Oversees the loading of export grain cargoes; reviews documentation and procedures for compliance with the Uniform Shiplot Inspection Plan (Cu-sum) and Protein Uniform Inspection Plan (PUIP) and compliance with the terms of sale as reflected in the load order document; answers questions for and resolves problems with elevator personnel and grain exporters;

Certifies official export weights; reviews export certificates for compliance with the Acts, Regulations, Instructions, and Contracts; reviews the work records of grain samplers, weighers, and inspectors for accuracy; reviews domestic certificates for accuracy and compliance with the Acts, Regulations, and Instructions prior to issuance;

Acts as an agent for Dairy and Food Division, Department of Agriculture, to place administrative embargoes on any food grains or commodities, in intrastate or interstate commerce, found to be in violation of Chapter 69.04 RCW, the Washington Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, and provides information to Dairy and Food Division and the Federal Food and Drug Administration on suspected violations;

Discusses weighing, grading and inspection problems and procedures in person and by telephone with representatives of the trade including elevator operators, producers, processors, warehousemen, freight carriers, FGIS and other governmental or public agencies; assists in informational meetings with the trade, foreign and domestic buyers and the public on official inspection problems and procedures;

May perform any or all the duties of a Grain Sampler, Grain Sampler-Weigher, Protein Specialist, Grain Inspector or Office Assistant; provides reinspections upon the request of interested parties;

Performs other work as required.

Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of: the United States Grain Standards Act, the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 and the regulations and instructions there under governing the sampling, inspection, handling, grading, shipping and certifying of grains and commodities; handling procedures of terminal, subterminal and country grain elevators and of commodity processing plants and warehouses; Chapter 22.09 RCW and other applicable State laws, rules and directives; grain office management policy, principles and procedures; inspection and weighing equipment and procedures; Merit System Rules; affirmative action policy, plan and procedures; safety policy and procedures.

Ability to: supervise enforcement of applicable Federal and State laws for official grain and commodity inspection and weighing services; assign, schedule, train and inspect the work of Grain Samplers, Grain Sampler-Weighers, Grain Inspectors, Protein Specialists and Office Assistants; interpret the Acts and Regulations for official personnel, shippers, growers, processors, buyers, and the public; utilize color and odor perception; conduct a quality assurance program for official inspection, weighing and NIR protein determinations; interpret ASCS and DPSC commodity contracts to determine compliance with contract requirements; interpret the Union-Management Agreement and Inner Office Agreements on the distribution of overtime and penalty time and assign and schedule employees in accordance with these agreements to meet industry needs; write and speak clearly, accurately, and informatively; deal effectively with the trade and the public.

Legal Requirement(s)

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Note: In addition to the USDA/FGIS licenses held at the time of appointment, a valid license to inspect any other grains or commodities designated for the grain office and/or inspected by the grain area office and for all other official functions performed by that office will be required within six months following appointment to this class and must be maintained for continued employment.